500 CISF inspectors received only one promotion in 30-34 years of service; Supreme Court orders cadre review:CISF inspectors protest career stagnation

News Topical, Digital Desk : Over 500 inspectors of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) have submitted a petition seeking a fair cadre review to ensure timely promotions. They said they are facing an "unprecedented" stagnation in their careers, having received just one promotion in their 30 to 34-year career.

These officers have sent several petitions to their headquarters, citing the Supreme Court's February 2 order in their favor. While disposing of the special leave petition, the apex court had directed that the cadre review for the CISF be completed within three months.

Inspectors in the CISF are initially recruited as sub-inspectors. Their next promotion is to inspector and then assistant commandant, the entry-level gazetted officer rank. Currently, the force has approximately 3,000 inspectors and about 17,000 sub-inspectors in its strength of about 200,000 personnel.

The petitioners allege stagnation from the Inspector level to the Assistant Commandant level. They argue that many are retiring after more than three decades of unblemished service and have received only one promotion (to Inspector). This stagnation in careers is leading to serious discrimination, demoralization, and a violation of their fundamental rights.

A senior CISF official said the cadre review for Group 'A' service officers is underway and it will be done in a fair manner keeping in mind all sections of the employees.

The inspectors have attributed this unprecedented stagnation in their careers to a "systematic" reduction in promotion quota, "irregularity" in rank status compared to other Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and non-adherence to Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) guidelines on cadre management.

They have also demanded parity with other CAPFs like the CRPF, BSF, ITBP, and SSB. They claim that sub-inspectors recruited in these forces through similar procedures have risen to the rank of higher gazetted officers, and their careers have been stalled despite entering the service through a single common SSC examination.

An inspector with 32 years of service said, "This has been a long battle for us. The Supreme Court found merit in our arguments and acknowledged that we were stagnating in our careers due to lack of proper promotions. We hope to be treated fairly this time, and that's why we've appealed to our headquarters for justice."